CamelBak  Cloud Walker Hydration Pack - 70 fl. oz.

This is the best day hiker on the market! The bladder holds enough water for a long day hike in the heat for myself and my dog. It is large enough to carry my lunch, dog food, extra coat and dog bowl. The front pocket easily stores firstaid kit, sunscreen,chapstick and gum in individual zip compartments (2 zip and 1 non-zip) with room to spare for a map. I use a clip to carry my camera from the side and hook my dogs leash to the d loops on the shoulder straps, works great!! This pack has made hiking in the warm DC area enjoyable!

I have had this pack for 8 years and the only thing I have replaced is the external straw because I work and hike in hot environments and I was concerned that the plastic would break down over time. Oh, and my dogs chewed the mouthpiece once, but I can't hold that against the design. I use this for field work, hiking, river trips, road trips (hands-free drinking). I almost never leave home without it. The bladder could be a bit bigger, but on longer outings, I throw in an extra bottle. Sometimes I wish for a bit more cargo space, but if I had it, I'd fill it and the pack would be heavier. It makes me prioritize what I put in there, which is usually a first-aid kit, an extra shirt, sunscreen, a full 1-liter collapsible water bottle, a lunch for me and snacks or dinner for the dogs. It holds plenty for a day-hike.

Bought it today, used it today, works great for day-hikes!!!!

I have the 2009 Cloud Walker which differs most in the front pocket which has a semi-circular top zipper. Also it has a pair of mesh bottle pockets, not needed with a 70 oz bladder. This is the first Camelbak I've owned which didn't have a plastic taste added to the water, big improvement. When I first got the pack it didn't have a waist belt and I thought this won't work! Not true, the pack is very stable with just a tight sternum strap. That strap adjusts vertically over a 5-inch range so easy to find your perfect position. The adjustable cinch strap was so long it was constantly interfering with my camera's safety strap, I solved this by inverting the buckle such that the free end was under the main strap. The 70 oz bladder is adequate for a long day hike but not an all day hike, about perfect. Any more and the weight of the water would overwhelm all else. The main pocket is surprising large and able to hold a rain and down jacket plus a shirt with room to spare. The front pocket had 3-pen holders, so I used a seam ripper to remove the stitching, leaving me with 1 pen and 1 pocket for a small sunscreen bottle. Gone are the days when day packs are made of ballistic cloth top to bottom. This guy is made from lightweight fabrics except for a small heavy bottom panel. The back is foam covered by mesh, very comfortable. However, the back is a pine needle magnet. This is now my go to pack for longer day hikes, under 10-miles. After 10 and I need more water.